ARMS OPEN WIDE

It has to be said that I am not a massive fan of Kershaw's vocal style, as for me there just isn't enough variety, and it comes across similar in tone and approach throughout the whole album. The one time this changes is on the third section of the opening song, "The Fear Quartet" (which as the name implies is a lengthy four section epic), where Stu Nicholson adds some much-needed variety, passion and emotion and takes the song to a whole new level. Musically, the band Kershaw has brought together for his fifth studio album do a great job, but one can't help but wonder what the album would have sounded like if he had brought in another singer?

The band are crossover prog, with large elements of neo prog, but interestingly I also found myself being reminded at times of the approach of The Levellers and the pop of Crowded House, so quite a mixed style in many ways. Gareth Cole (guitar) is a revelation, with some blistering lead runs and melodies, while Leopold Blue-Sky (Garden of Live Flowers - bass) keeps it nailed and Stefan Hepe (Gandalf's Fist) is given free rein on the drums to do pretty much what he likes, and definitely drives it along from the back. Kershaw himself provides keyboards and vocals, but the keys are pretty much there for tonal colour as opposed to driving melodies, somewhat similar to how Credo operates before Mike Varty joined the band.

Overall this is a solid album, as opposed to essential, and if you find that you enjoy Kershaw's vocals then I am sure you will think it is much more of the latter than the former.

Mike Kershaw, who lives in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, worked in the financial sector for 22 years, until he decided to change course. Arms Open Wide is already Mike Kershaw's eighth album, the first three under the name Relocated To Heathrow, and the second one appearing on Bad Elephant.

He is an artist who wants to develop every album and Arms Open Wide is in that line. Was the 2016 coming What Lies Beneath already a big step forward, especially in the compositional and textual field, at Arms Open Wide he throws it a different approach in the atmospheric field and experiments with it, broadening his musical horizon.

The album sounds much darker and more aggressive than its predecessor, tackling themes such as anxiety, paranoia, fear and manipulation. Kershaw is once again working with guitarist Gareth Cole and bassist Leopold Blue-Sky (Garden Of Live Flowers). Blue-Sky's distinctive bass was a delight at What Lies Beneath, and again his game sounds inspired. Gareth Cole is a sought-after session musician who plays a pleasant integrated style of riffs and melodies. Newcomer Stefan Hepe (Gandalf's Fist) on drums provides a creative, intelligent and powerful accompaniment.

Although Kershaw's influences clearly stem from the 1970s, he knows how to process contemporary elements in his style. Again he produces an album with thoughtful and melodic songs, which somehow fit into these less cheerful and erratic times in which we live. The Fear Quartet represents this idea, in which Kershaw expresses contemporary fears about aggressive melodies by means of powerful vocals, in Part 2: Facing The Fear, supported by Stu Nicholson (Galahad).

The other five tracks fit perfectly well with this strong opener, although Dark Spaces in a negative way jumps out because of the weak vocals against a strong unconventional melodic guitar line. Curtains finally forms an almost sugary conclusion with a twist in the text that deals with the poison that strengthens our daily routine. Gareth Cole knows how to bring this song to a well thought-out end with a beautiful guitar solo. After well-received What Lies Beneath with Arms Open Wide once again Mike Kershaw knows how to surprise the listener with a nice album.